31:
427:, a company and registered charity that specialises in such local screenings, showed the film. The film became a word-of-mouth hit through this route, and allowed Oldham and Akhurst to bypass the distributors and go directly to the exhibitors, bolstered by an internet petition.
422:
The film struggled to find a widespread distribution deal, as distributors felt it was too niche in its appeal to be profitable. Oldham and
Akhurst organised a tour of village halls throughout the West Country from January to March 2009, in local venues such as village halls.
331:, and he realised that the English folk dance and its traditions were a rich subject for a film. He went on to qualify as a lawyer but turned to acting and writing. He gradually developed the script of
1075:
522:
wrote that "At times its gentle, nuzzling brand of comedy is akin to being gummed by a sheep. And yet
Akhurst and Oldham's tale is obviously heartfelt and frequently charming".
959:
374:
The film was shot in London and parts of south west
England in the summer of 2007, one of the wettest on record up to that date. Filming locations were predominantly in the
343:
Although a low-budget film – it cost a total of £500,000 to make – Oldham was successful in fulfilling his wish-list and the film features some well-known actors including
778:
464:(another director renowned for filming in the West Country) considered that the film was "a sophisticated faux-naive film that combines the style of the style of
445:
chain on 27 September 2009. Although it had a limited release, on its opening day it had a higher take per screen than the studio-backed big budget film
991:
1180:
371:. Oldham plays the lead role and Akhurst also appears in the film. A number of real-life morris sides were used as extras in the filming.
488:... Oldham has managed to walk that tightrope between irony and sincerity and come down squarely on the side of heart." Jonathan Brown of
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692:
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is an affectionate if uncompromisingly comic examination of this most peculiar of
English traditions", while Jon Swaine of
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The character's first name is also a placename shared by several
Wiltshire villages close to Swindon, including
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The character's name is the full name of the 17th-century French playwright better known as
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in
Wiltshire served as the Traveller's Staff pub, and the climax of the film was shot at
1076:"Rejected by film makers: Simon Pegg and Sendhil Ramamurthy audition tapes discovered!"
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Part of the publicity for the film included a spoof audition tape for the lead role by
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320:(known as Chaz Oldham), who also co-produced it with his wife, the film's director
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beach in Dorset (doubling with the addition of a few palm trees as Los
Angeles'
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The character's unusual first name, a French surname, is used instead of Derek.
324:. The film's production company was Twist Films, set up by Oldham and Akhurst.
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539:. The film was released on DVD on 26 July 2010. The soundtrack composed by
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779:"With bells on! Salisbury basketball players' role in Morris dancing movie"
635:); as a given name it is probably more common in North America than the UK.
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in London on 24 September 2009 and was released in a few cinemas in the
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The character's first name may be another placename reference (see e.g.
516:
called it "a cult hit". Giving it two stars out of five, Xan Brooks in
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335:, and drew up a wish-list of actors he would like to have in the film.
622:, which is close to several of the filming locations used in the film.
618:
The character's name is a reference to the south
Wiltshire village of
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Oldham spent his later teen years living with a family who were keen
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The character's name is a reference to the
Lincolnshire village of
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395:
644:
The character's surname may be another placename reference (see
430:
In May 2009 the film had its international premiere at the 35th
1021:"Dancers armed with staves are poised to storm the box office"
1078:. Unreality Shout. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012
567:
The character's unusual first name may be a reference to
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website under "Moviola" in the
Additional Media section.
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considered that "shot in mockumentary style that evokes
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70:
60:
50:
40:
23:
454:Reviews were generally positive. In an article in
304:Andy Black as Lydiard Sperling, Millsham Morrisman
992:"Morris: A Life With Bells On – UK Film Premiere"
301:Adam Ewan as Boothby Pagnell, Millsham Morrisman
605:The character's surname is a reference to the
238:as Jean Baptiste Poquelin, Millsham Morrisman
8:
1156:Interview on New Zealand tv with Chaz Oldham
529:, and a spoof video diary by American actor
200:is a 2009 British independent film, a comic
29:
20:
882:"The DIY films that vanish without trace"
693:"Hell's bells! The joy of Morris Dancing"
437:The film had its British premiere at the
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551:
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825:"Morris dancing film becomes cult hit"
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715:
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684:
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7:
691:Jonathan Brown (21 September 2009).
402:in Wiltshire. The Compasses Inn at
432:Seattle International Film Festival
292:as Muff Barcock, Millsham Morrisman
286:as Plush Gurney, Millsham Morrisman
274:as Will Frosser, Millsham Morrisman
220:as Derecq Twist, Millsham Morrisman
724:"Venice Beach? No, it's Sandbanks"
14:
908:Olivia Laing (15 February 2009).
571:; the middle name is a play on a
268:as Professor Compton Chamberlayne
1047:Xan Brooks (25 September 2009).
960:"Seattle fest announces winners"
777:Mike Turner (13 February 2009).
937:"Morris Dancers Invade Seattle"
804:Press release available on the
751:"Location! Location! Location!"
730:(see the video for information)
1049:"Morris: A Life With Bells On"
852:"Morris: a Life with Bells on"
823:Jon Swaine (5 February 2009).
722:Nick Churchill (28 May 2010).
678:is a surname of Jewish origin.
232:as Endeavour Hungerfjord Welsh
1:
958:Gregg Kilday (14 June 2009).
880:Xan Brooks (1 October 2009).
1181:2000s English-language films
1136:Morris: A Life with Bells On
1125:Morris: A Life with Bells On
806:Morris: A Life with Bells On
609:, on the banks of the Loire.
579:in Berkshire, combined with
333:Morris: A Life with Bells On
314:Morris: A Life with Bells On
197:Morris: A Life with Bells On
24:Morris: A Life with Bells On
533:from the television series
145:27 September 2009
1207:
1176:British mockumentary films
749:Andy Davey (30 May 2007).
1096:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
910:"Stick up for morris men"
854:. Moviola. Archived from
28:
16:2009 film by Lucy Akhurst
256:as Jeremy, The Producer
965:The Hollywood Reporter
756:Bournemouth Daily Echo
728:Bournemouth Daily Echo
408:Wimborne Folk Festival
939:. PR Log. 14 May 2009
439:Prince Charles Cinema
418:Release and reception
318:Charles Thomas Oldham
244:as Miloslav Villandry
218:Charles Thomas Oldham
74:Charles Thomas Oldham
64:Charles Thomas Oldham
55:Charles Thomas Oldham
620:Compton Chamberlayne
607:Château de Villandry
508:A Life with Bells On
35:Original film poster
1186:2000s British films
830:The Daily Telegraph
633:Preston, Lancashire
543:is also available.
513:The Daily Telegraph
1019:(29 August 2009).
531:Sendhil Ramamurthy
503:This is Spinal Tap
784:Salisbury Journal
404:Lower Chicksgrove
280:as Preston Tannen
202:spoof documentary
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1116:Official website
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972:on 18 June 2009
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858:on 27 July 2011
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659:Boothby Pagnell
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569:Inspector Morse
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541:Richard Lumsden
491:The Independent
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386:, and included
369:Sophie Thompson
353:Dominique Pinon
341:
316:was written by
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284:Richard Lumsden
278:Pascal Langdale
260:Sophie Thompson
236:Dominique Pinon
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131:Richard Lumsden
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101:Sophie Thompson
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85:Dominique Pinon
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1108:External links
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1191:Morris dance
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1080:. Retrieved
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1058:. Retrieved
1054:The Guardian
1052:
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1030:. Retrieved
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999:. Retrieved
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974:. Retrieved
970:the original
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941:. Retrieved
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919:. Retrieved
915:The Observer
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891:. Retrieved
887:The Guardian
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860:. Retrieved
856:the original
846:
834:. Retrieved
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788:. Retrieved
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702:. Retrieved
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519:The Guardian
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483:
477:
471:
467:Best in Show
465:
455:
453:
446:
443:Picturehouse
436:
429:
421:
392:Venice Beach
378:counties of
376:West Country
373:
345:Derek Jacobi
342:
332:
326:
322:Lucy Akhurst
313:
312:
296:John Boswall
290:Clive Mantle
224:Derek Jacobi
196:
195:
194:
161:Running time
138:Release date
81:Derek Jacobi
66:Lucy Akhurst
45:Lucy Akhurst
18:
1017:Ken Russell
462:Ken Russell
460:, director
448:The Soloist
414:in Dorset.
309:Development
165:100 minutes
61:Produced by
41:Directed by
1171:2009 films
1165:Categories
1120:(archived)
577:Hungerford
547:References
527:Simon Pegg
497:The Office
149:2009-09-27
122:Nick Carew
51:Written by
1092:cite news
1026:The Times
573:placename
479:Zoolander
457:The Times
388:Sandbanks
384:Wiltshire
357:Greg Wise
262:as Glenda
242:Greg Wise
119:Edited by
89:Greg Wise
1141:AllMovie
676:Sperling
646:Staveley
412:Wimborne
349:Ian Hart
250:as Sonja
230:Ian Hart
189:£500,000
178:Language
127:Music by
77:Ian Hart
71:Starring
594:Molière
425:Moviola
400:Tisbury
339:Filming
181:English
170:Country
147: (
1082:5 July
1060:5 July
1032:5 July
1001:5 July
996:Zimbio
976:5 July
943:5 July
921:5 July
893:5 July
862:5 July
836:5 July
790:5 July
762:7 July
734:5 July
704:5 July
536:Heroes
380:Dorset
204:about
186:Budget
581:fjord
396:Poole
1130:IMDb
1098:link
1084:2010
1062:2010
1034:2010
1003:2010
978:2010
945:2010
923:2010
895:2010
864:2010
838:2010
792:2010
764:2010
736:2010
706:2010
500:and
485:Babe
482:and
382:and
367:and
212:Cast
1139:at
1128:at
410:at
394:),
1167::
1094:}}
1090:{{
1051:.
1023:.
994:.
962:.
912:.
884:.
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827:.
813:^
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753:.
726:.
714:^
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683:^
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648:).
575:,
506:,
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363:,
359:,
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351:,
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1100:)
1086:.
1064:.
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1005:.
980:.
947:.
925:.
897:.
866:.
840:.
794:.
766:.
738:.
708:.
661:.
596:.
583:.
151:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
